‘We will never be able to move on from our loss' says Henry Stangroom's family

Andrew Morris was jailed for life for killing 21-year-old Henry Stangroom in May

A family from Odiham has said ‘no sentence would be enough’ for a financial expert who killed their son with a spear gun and carving knife.

Andrew Morris, 30, was convicted of murder last Friday after he killed 21-year-old Henry Stangroom when his sister Michelle dumped him.

Mr Stangroom’s father Jerry told the News & Mail: “There can be no justice for our son and brother, nothing will bring him back. Such a wonderful boy, we miss him so much.

“The evidence has proved this was a premeditated murder whilst he was asleep by a coward hiding behind diminished responsibly.

“We will never be able to come to terms with the loss of Henry, we will never be able to move on.

“It’s impossible not to think of the terror he must have felt being woken with a spear gun wound to the head and then to be faced with the man he looked up to like an older brother, turned into a maniac with a knife. He would have been in no position to defend himself. No sentence would be enough.”

Morris killed Mr Stangroom on October 17 last year at the flat they shared on Lavender Sweep, Battersea. Police officers entered the flat after family members raised concerns for Mr Stangroom’s welfare.

They found Mr Stangroom lying on his bed, having been stabbed in the heart and lungs with a knife.

Morris was found in the bathroom where he had slit his wrists. A harpoon spear was sticking out from underneath his chin.

Police said Morris had been in a relationship with Mr Stangroom’s sister until around six weeks before the murder. The three of them had lived together at the Lavender Sweep flat.

Miss Stangroom ended the relationship following an argument on August 28 last year when Morris was violent towards her.

She moved out of the flat in September and her brother was due to do the same in early October.

Morris has a history of violent and aggressive behaviour towards his ex-girlfriends and had punched one former partner in the stomach and spat in her face.

Police said Morris was abusing large amounts of cocaine and alcohol. He had been on sick leave for five months and his employers had begun disciplinary action against him.

Andrew Morris, jailed for life for murdering Henry Stangroom

On the day of his death Mr Stangroom worked a double shift ending at 11.30pm. He went for a drink with colleagues before getting the tube home.

This was the last time he was seen alive.

Morris was arrested and told police he had no recollection of the murder.

He produced a statement stating he had been drinking heavily and taking drugs over a period of time leading up to the murder.

But officers found that during early October, Morris had made internet searches for ‘murder and mental illness sentencing’, ‘sentencing for murder in the UK’ and ‘spear gun death accident’.

Detective Chief Inspector Diane Tudway, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Andrew Morris killed Henry Stangroom in a brutal attack because he felt rejected and because he could not come to terms with that. He has not taken responsibility for his actions and shown no genuine remorse. He took Henry away from a loving and close family who have continued to show amazing strength and dignity.

“I am pleased the jury has convicted him and whilst it will not alleviate the grief of Henry’s family and friends, I hope the conviction goes some small way towards providing them some comfort.”

She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.